UNION TWP. — In government, nothing is simple. So while the Union Township Committee was set Wednesday night to introduce an ordinance to allow the raising of chickens on smaller lots than presently permitted, Township Attorney J. Peter Jost said another step is needed.

Since it’s a land use matter, the Planning Board has to give its approval, he explained.

“There’s something inherently comic about chicken ordinances,” Jost remarked. For instance, when he reported “I have an expert chicken witness I can bring in to the Planning Board, if that would help,” Committeeman Bruce Hirt asked “who, Frank Perdue?” referring to the man who became a poultry magnate with his brand and the advertising tag line “It takes a tough man to make a tender chicken.”

“No, no,” Jost replied. (Perdue died in 2005.)

Current township rules limit chickens to properties of 3 acres or more but allow 50 fowl per acre. So a person with 3 acres “could conceivably have 150 chickens on 3 acres, which is a lot of chickens,” Jost noted. The whole matter of changing the chicken regulations came up when a man appeared at a February committee meeting to ask about loosening the rules.

Roosters would only be allowed on lots of 5 acre or more.

“ I've got bad news for you, 5 acres will not be enough” Committeeman William Bischoff remarked, apparently thinking of neighbors who don’t want to hear too much crowing.

Committeeman Matt Severino questioned the proposal to allow up to 6 chickens on a lot of up to 1 acre, asking about the possible problem of a “very small parcel and another dwelling very close.”

Jost explained he was told that chickens are generally sold in lots of six or more. Regarding that query and others, he suggested “why don’t we let the Planning Board ponder the heavy questions.”

The proposed rule changes also require that a potential chicken raiser with less than 3 acres first get a permit from the zoning officer, who would also have the right to inspect the property for compliance.

The chickens would have to be kept in a roofed shelter or coop, and also have access to an enclosed run, with the minimum space per bird listed for each.

The draft ordinance also contains requirements for sanitation and manure removal.

Bischoff said the planners can “make any change they feel in their infinite wisdom is good and at the same time meet the challenge of folks who want to have free-range eggs.”

Hirt said the birds go outside in part to eat gavel from the ground. Since chickens lack teeth, the presence of gravel in the stomach helps to mash up the food and ease digestion. Broken-down stone is also used to form the egg shell.

After pecking around in the dirt, the hens “go inside, go ‘cluck cluck,’ cluck, lay an egg and go outside and eat some more gravel and food,” Hirt explained.

When it was time to vote on sending the measure to the Planning Board, he abstained. Did he have chickens, another committeeman asked.